Have a little reprieve from seeing shows for a couple weeks. Time to reflect.

Last night I went to a class at Catholic Medical Center about Mindfulness and Stress Relief techniques with Matt and Jeff. Patty suggested it to us and I am so glad she did. I have had my share of stress and anxiety in the past ten months or so I definitely needed new methods on to manage it better.

We got a sheet on feeling vocabulary at the seminar and here are some words that stood out to me on this list.

:

Aggravated and mad: Mostly at myself for how I handled the situation of a friendship ending and how I handle rejection from failed auditions. Example of failed audition: When I did not do well at the audition for Souhegan Valley Showcase last year or just how I deal in general with rejection when I fail an audition such as in the past when I’ve auditioned for Stagecoach Productions and Actorsingers.

Nervous: Because I thought how I was acting was affecting how a certain person thought about me.

Now I know this was sort of ridiculous because I know this person likes me. Was she mad at me? Nope. I have no idea why I thought she would’ve been.

Sad: Especially because Dan and Gerry passed away and I have constantly been thinking of how much I miss them. My dog was put to sleep on Thursday too.

Anxious: See above notes about a friendship ending.

Unfocused: Because of all the feelings I mentioned above which I why I had to take a break from SVC this semester and just focus on Wizard Of Oz. Last year I realized a huge part of my problem that I was being pulled in too many different directions between chorus, the play and SVC Board Of Directors.

Frustrated: Because tech week can be stressful and I lost my cool a few times during Wizard Of Oz.

Grateful: High School graduation has passed. I have actually been kind of sad because I am going to really miss Naomi and Matt next year as they are the two kids who are graduating who I’ve grown the closest to. I know that they will meet amazing new people on their journey to their next chapter and can’t wait to hear where it’s going to take them. I am also grateful for my friends and family who helped me through my stressful time as I dealt with all these various emotions.

During the class I was able to take a step back and reevaluate things. I realized that all this negativity gets me nowhere especially since typically I am a really positive person . Time to turn the negatives into positives. The 1st part of 2017 has been a learning curve and a time for growth and change for me. Here’s to the next six months being more happy!

Thank you again Patty for recommending this class. It was incredibly helpful.

Mary Poppins ran April 28th-30th at Interlakes High School in Meredith and was directed by J. Alward, Music Directed by Phil Breton and choreographed by Erin Lovett Sherman,Kelli Powers and Joan Frates. Congrats to the cast, crew and production team on a wonderful performance. I look forward to seeing many more shows at the Streetcar Company.

Dateline: May 19th

Sonya, Matt Joanie and I went to the SHS Spring Concert. I also leave the concerts feeling impressed and blown away by the talent of the current crop of musicians at Souhegan. Notable performances were Rock Around The Clock (Acapella Singers), Amazing Grace, The Storm IS Passing Over, Cantar! , River Song (conducted by Naomi Cohen), Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ( Helen St Cyr, Maddie Gillespe and Becca Hall) and Nothing Gonna Stumble My Feet (Concert Choir), Resound (Handbells, Conducted by Naomi Cohen), Bridgewater Breeze, Jump Jive and Wail and The River Flows In You ( Alissa Reitter Flute Ben Carnick Piano (Concert Band) Great job to all and congratulations to all the seniors in band, choir, Acapella and Handbells. Wishing all of you all the best in your next chapter.

Date Line June 2nd

I was first introduced to Fame last year during SVC showcase when Jenn Erdody sang Out Here On My Own.. before that I had never heard of the movie or musical FAME. When I found out Manchester Community Theatre Players was doing it this summer I was very excited and it’s easily one of my new favorite shows. This show follows the trials and tribulations of a group of students at performing arts high school in New York City throughout their four years of high school and seemed to be amazingly appropriate for the current graduation season.

Favorite Musical Numbers included Bring On Tomorrow, Jackie’s Rap, The Teacher’s Argument, Think Of Meryl Streep, Let’s Play A Love Scene and Fame.

Fame ran at the North End Montersorri School in Manchester and was directed by Steve Short, music directed by Karina Allyane and choreographed by Loren Hallet

On June 9th Matt and I met up with Patty, Collin Moore and Laura Vitale at The Palace Theatre to see Million Dollar Quartet. Denise Sprague and Kerri Goolsby contributed to this review as well. Notable performances were by Benjamin Van Diepen (Jerry Lee Lewis), Lauren Wright (Dyanne) and Colin Barkerll ( Johnny Cash) but oh my the whole cast was talented!! Favorite musical numbers included Fever, Great Balls Of Fire, Long Tall Sally ( I thought that song was by Little Richard), all Johnny Cash songs, Let’s Have A Party and Whole Lot OF Shakin!

Million Dollar Quartet ended its run this afternoon at 2pm. I am looking forward very much to next years season at The Palace Theatre!

I have been having so much trouble coming up with the words to properly capture how I feel about Dan Wolaver passing away. I couldn’t speak at the services today because I did not feel I was ready to talk yet about how much he has meant to Matt and I. Listening to the song Thank You For The Music from Mamma Mia (quoted above) finally allowed me to gather my thoughts.

I joined SVC in Fall 2014 and Matt joined the following fall semester in 2015. Everyone was very welcoming to us especially Dan. We both have found a second family within the chorus and are so happy for all the friendships we have made. Dan’s guidance was very important to both of us. The last time that that I saw him he came over to my apartment with suggestions for songs we could use for future duet auditions and also gave us an arrangement of I’m A Believer from Shrek The Musical that can be used as a quartet. Unfortunately we could not audition for the Showcase since we will be going to at a wedding but we are planning to audition for the Milford Pumpkin Festival talent show in September. Name of quartet is to be announced but of course it will be a Shrek related quartet name. Our audition and performance if we get chosen will be dedicated to Dan’s memory. Dan also put a poem I wrote called Angels On My Shoulder to sheet music which I hope to be able to perform at some point. Matt also added that Dan got him involved with reading music and what the terminology meant and is grateful for that.

So yes indeed, Dan thank you for the music and all you have done for SVC. Everyone in SVC will miss you very much but I think Matt and I will miss you the most of all. We love you.

This review has been posted to the Facebook page for the blog but I can’t seem to figure out how to also share the review to the SVC Facebook since I don’t administrate that page and my page can’t link up to it.

This semester’s theme was Director’s Choice selected by Jennifer Erdody from songs that have been done for past semesters of SVC and also with her choruses at Milford High School. Of course being the journalist that I am I asked people as they were coming out of the theatre what their favorite songs were. For Good seemed to be a popular choice as that is one of my favorite songs too. Some people could not choice a favorite. Besides For Good I also liked the Jersey Boys Medley, L-O-V-E, How Do I Keep From Singing? ( the concert’s title track) and Spirit Eternal. I also won play tickets to the Milford Area Players fall show in the Silent Auction which was an added bonus.

Our concert was dedicated to the memory of Dan Wolaver and Gerry Katz who died in February. Though I was laughing at the funny memories that were being shared I also wanted to cry because I am going to really miss Dan and Gerry a lot. That’s why I got especially choked up during For Good because knowing them definitely has changed me a lot and I’m sure other members of the chorus feel the same way. Dan’s services are on Saturday afternoon and I think that’s going to be really hard for me. I know he wouldn’t want me to be sad though and neither would Gerry.

Another great SVC concert. I love everyone in this group so very much! I can’t wait to come back in the fall after taking the semester off.

Since I have seen so many plays recently I decided not to see Chess at Windham Actors Guild I am plan to see their fall show though.

April 28th Arsenic and Old Lace Nashua Theatre Guild

April 30th Mary Poppins Street Car Company

May 5th Sesussical The Musical Riverbend Youth Company

I just wanted to let people know that Seussical will be my final show that I will be helping Riverbend with publicity for. I have had a long run and great experience and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the kids I have interviewed for various articles over the years. The reason I have to take a step back is because I have realized recently that scheduling becomes way too difficult for doing interviews especially when I am doing the PTA play at the same time. Trust me, I am not going far away because I will still be involved in the shows in other ways. I have recently gotten new duties at my job where I am writing articles for the Plus Company Newsletter and more of my focus needs to be directed toward that. I am also taking a step back from doing PTA publicity once Wizard Of OZ ends for similar reasons.

May 6th SVC Concert Director’s Choice

I went to watch the rehearsals tonight and also on February 26th and I am so excited to see how everything comes together. Missing my SVC friends and can’t wait to return in the fall!

May 13th Singin In The Rain Actorsingers

May 19th Grease Peacock Players

Summer Viewing Schedule is still being determined at this time.

I have decided to challenge myself a little bit more and audition for the Actorsingers Fringe Show The Wild Party on June 5th. I am very excited because it has been awhile since I have auditioned for a show with Actorsingers. Looking for audition song recommendations if anyone has any. I also plan to work backstage for The Friends Of The Amato Center show Fiddler On The Roof.

The following article will not be published in local newspapers until after the PTA play is over. I couldn’t wait that long to post it here because personally I feel it is one of my best articles… and probably one of the last publicity articles I will write for the PTA t00. Naomi is just THE BEST!

SouheganHigh School Senior shares PTA Play Memories

by Janine Leffler

The classic and iconic tale Wizard Of OZ will be performed by the Amherst PTA this April. I recently spoke with Naomi Cohen, a senior at Souhegan High School who will be playing Dorothy. She reflected on her past PTA performances and the progress of Wizard Of OZ rehearsals up to this point.

Cohen has been in the PTA play for the past seven years being in every show since 2010 except for CATS. When asked why she auditioned for Wizard Of Oz she said, “The PTA Play has been part of my spring for so long it felt weird not to do it. I decided to audition because this would be my last PTA Play before going to college.” She went on to say, “There are so many memories of my first PTA play, Children Of Eden; having my makeup done back stage, Sophie Linkroum waltzing by with her hair in curlers and saying, “This is a zoo!” and me answering with something witty or getting to eat lettuce on stage which is something I didn’t think happened during shows.” Naomi remembers looking up to Sophie Linkroum and is honored this year to be the lead character, Dorothy, in the hope younger kids will look up to her.

When asked what she likes about Dorothy’s character she responded “Dorothy is quite obviously a dreamer. She’s protecting Toto with every ounce of herself even if it means running away from home to do so. She’s friendly and loving with a touch of teenage brat which makes her so much more interesting, rather than the sweet character we’ve all come to know.” She went on to say, “It is hard for me to choose a favorite scene. I love the Munckinland scene because it is so iconic and the kids are so fun to work with. I also like the Jitterbug scene because it is a fun dance number. There are so many bucket-list moments for me in this show; I get to lie down on stage, carry a live dog, eat and I am even lifted up at one point.”

Cohen encourages people who have never auditioned for a PTA play by saying the following, “A wonderful thing about the Amherst PTA is that we they include everyone we they can and you get to know so many people in a different way. Who knew that the town’s teachers had such lovely voices or that your next door neighbor was a tap dancer extraordinaire?” When asked why people should come see Wizard Of OZ she said, “It’s a classic. It’s a family show which supports your community. There are a million reasons but please come support the arts!”

Cohen is still awaiting word on where she will attend college next fall and hopes to study music education where ever she goes. This show has been a dream come true for her in every way. We wish Naomi the very best of luck in her future endeavors. Your star will shine wherever you go.

Wizard Of OZ runs at Souhegan High School April 20-23rd with evening performances at 7pm and matinees at 2pm. The show is directed by Vouli Anthimoudi and Sharron April, music directed by Karina Allayne and Laura Millar and choreographed by Loren Hallet. You won’t want to miss this magical show!